Last summer, USC president Carol Folt retired from the position. Her six years in charge of the university were extremely eventful ones for athletics. During her tenure, the Trojans revamped nearly the entire department, hired several high-profile coaches (most notably Lincoln Riley), and joined the Big Ten Conference.
Since Folt announced her plans to retire in the fall of 2024, USC has been in search if her replacement. On Wednesday, the university announced that Beong-Soo Kim has been named USC’s 13th president.
Kim has served as the university’s interim president since Folt’s retirement. He has been at USC in a senior role since 2020.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be appointed the 13th president of the University of Southern California,” Kim said in a message sent to students and alumni. “To the Board of Trustees, the Presidential Search Committee, our amazing faculty, staff, and students, and the entire Trojan Family: thank you for entrusting me to advance USC’s mission – with openness, vision, and integrity – during this time of change and immense opportunity.
“More than anything else, though, USC’s greatest asset is the talent and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. In every domain, and every part of the world, Trojans distinguish themselves as leaders. There is nothing USC cannot achieve when we bring our talents and perspectives together as one united Trojan Family.”
So what does the hire mean for athletics? Well, it certainly seems to be a good thing. During his time as interim president, Kim has been praised for his leadership and creating alignment within the university. That alignment extends to Jennifer Cohen and the athletic department.
That Kim seemingly has a strong relationship with Cohen is crucial for the future of USC athletics. Having a great AD only means so much if he or she does not have the full backing and support of the university president, and Cohen seems to have just that in Kim.
Perhaps most importantly, Kim has not been afraid to give the athletic department the funding that it needs to be successful nationally. Under his leadership, the Trojans have invested significantly in recruiting, coaching hires, and facilities in numerous sports, most notably football.
With this being USC, after all, it is perfectly normal for alumni, students, and fans to wonder what latest SCandal could come along and inevitably screw things up. But for the time being, this looks like a great hire by USC, both for the athletic department and the university as a whole.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC names Beong-Soo Kim president—What does that mean for athletics?
Reporting by Adam Bradford, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
